Bottle container



O 1 936. J. w. LANG ET AL ,006.

BOTTLE CONTAINEB Fild Feb. '1, 1934 .TTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENT QFFHE BOTTLE CONTAINER John W. Lang and Alfred M. J ensen, Racine, Wis. Application February 1, 1934, Serial No. 709,274

6 Claims. (Cl. 220-21) This invention relates to improvements in bottle containers.

Heretofore, milk bottle cases have, for the most part, been constructed with bottom partitions 5 or crossed wires to form individual compartments Within which the bottles are adapted to loOsely fit. Due to the fact that these compartments do not hold the bott1es rigidly, there is necessarfly considerable rattling when the case is being car- 1 ried; and this is disturbing to custmers who are endeavoring to sleep while the early morning deliveries are being made. In addition, the present type of case does not prevent b-reakage, as the upper portions of the bottles can strike one an- 15 other during transportation. Furthermcre, if the case is accidentally tipped, there is nothing to prevent the bottles from slipping out.

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the present invention to obvate the aboVe-menticned objectionable features of the usual type of bottle container by providing means within the case for releasab1y and securely holding the individual bott1es, said means preventing contact of the bott1es With one another and holding the bottles Within the case even if the latter is accidentafly inverted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle container as above described wherein the individual bottle-holdimg devices are of such a nature as to fit compactly Within the case, so as to provide for the accommodation of the same number of bottles in a case of standard size as are now being carried.

Another object of the invention is to provide a milk bottle holder or carrier, which is readi1y accessible for cleaning and which may thereore be maintained in high1y sanitary condition.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a bottle container having a plurality of individual bottle-holdmg members so shaped as to substantiafly conform to the contour of the bottle when the bottle is in position while permitting the bottle to be readily withdrawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle holder as above described in which said yielding members are formed in an inexpemsive manner from spring wire.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a bottle container, units embodying yielding means adapted to be spread to permit the reception and withdrawal of bottles, said units being positiomed in a novel manner within the case to provide for maximum capacity while permitting sufficient space for spreading of said yielding means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle container which, while particulafly adapted for use in connection with milk bott1es, may be readily adapted to receive bottles of any similar type, such as beer bottles and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle container which is re1atively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, and well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention Consists of the improved bott1e container and all its parts and combinations as sea forth in the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved container;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken longitudinafly thru the container;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the bottle-holdmg units;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 1, the dot-and-dash fines showing a milk bottle in position therein;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the yielding members in spread condition and the dot-anddash limes indicating the lower portion of a bottle as the bottle is being withdrawn;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken al0ng line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line ll of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 in a b-ottom view of the unit taken along the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates a case of conventional size and shape. The case is shown as constructed of metal, but it may, of course, be formed of wood or other suitable material.

Each of the bottle-holding units shown in perspective in Fig. 3 has a base formed of an upper plate H and a lower plate l2 (see Figs. 7 and 8). The upper plate has each of two opposite edges formed with a central 1ug I3 and With lugs M on each side there0f. On the other two edges the upper plate is formed on its lower surface With grooves l5, said grooves forming a rib on the upper surface of the plate. Connecting the two grooves 15 is a substantially central groove l6.

Spring bottle-holding members Il and I8 are each formed of a length of Wire having considarable rigidity bent into substantially inverted U-form, as shown in Fig. 3. The ends of each length of wire extend into the grooves 15 of the upper plate and are then bent into the central groove I6 in the manner shown in Fig. 7. When the two bottle-holding members are thus inserted, the lower plate [2 is put in position and the metal lugs 14 of the upper plate are bent over the lower plate to the position shown in Fig. 8 t0 thereby confine the ends of the bottle-holding members between the two plates.

Near their upper ends the bottle-holding members I! and 18 are of restricted width, as at 19, and said portions of restricted width also normally extend inwardly toward one another, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper portion of each of the members H and l8 is of enlarged Width and normally extends outvvardly, as indicated by the numeral 20 in Figs. 3 and 4. It Will thus be seen that the tWo bottle-holding members Il and 18 are shaped to substantially conform to the contour of the bottle When the bottle is in position. The restricted, inwardly-bent portions l9 serve t0 tightly engage the narrowed neck portion of the bottle and thereby prevent loss of the bottle if the case is accidentally inverted. The out- Wardly-fiaring upper portions 20 facilitate insertion and withdrawal of the bottles, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The bottom of the case is slotted at a plurality of points, as at 2l, to receive the lugs [3 of the bottle-holding units, the said lugs extending thru the bottom of the case and then being bent over to firmly lock the units in position.

It is preferred to position the units angularly Within the case in the manner shown in Fig. 1. With this arrangement the standard number of twelve milk bottles may be readily accommodated while still permitting spaces 22 between adjacent units which are large enough to provide for spreading of the bottle-holding members Il and 18 when a bottle is being inserted or Withdrawn.

As a result of the above, it may be seen that the bottlcs are tightly clamped in position by means permitting ready withdrawal and that when the bottles are in position, no rattling is possible and that the individual bottles cannot become dislodged from their holders. It Will Iurther be seen that the above is accompiished by means Which does not consume extra space Within the case inasmuch as the bottle holders conform very closely to the shape of the bottle and only increase their size by the diameter of the wire forming the holders.

By constructing the spring holding members Il and l8 along narrower lines, the invention may be readily adapted for use in connection with beer bottles; and likewise the principles of the invention may be readily utilized in connection With any type of bottle having a narrowed neck portion.

Altho only one form of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention; and all of such changes are contemplated as may corne within the scope of the claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a container having a bottom formed with slots, a plurality of individual bottle-holding units, each comprising a pair of spaced clip members normally yielding inwardly toward one another to tightly grip a bottle placed therebetween, a base, means on the base for securing the lower ends of the clip members thereto, and lugs depending from the base insertible thru the slots of the container bottom to secure the bottieholding unit in position.

2. In a container, a plurality of individual bottle-holding units each comprising a pair of spaced clip members, each clip being formed cf looped wire, and the two clip members of each unit normally yielding inwardly to tightly grip a bottle inserted therebetween, a base having grooves in its lower surface for receiving end portions of the wire forming the clip members, means for securing said end portions within said grooves, and means for securing said base to the bottom of the container.

3. In a container, a plurality of individual bottle-holding units each comprising a pair of spaced clip members, each clip being formed cf looped wire, and the two clip members of each unit normally yielding inwardly to tightly grip a bottle inserted therebetween, a base having grooves in its lower surface for receiving end portions of the wire forming the clip members, a plate pcsitioned below said base to secure the end portions of the wire within the grooves, means for securing said plate and base together, and means for securing the base to the bottom of the container.

4. In a container, a plurality of individual bottle-holding units, each comprising a pair of spaced clip members normally yielding inwardly toward one another to tightly grip a bottle placed therebetween, an individual base for each pair of clip members on which the bottom of each bottle is adapted to rest, means on the base for securing the lower ends of the clip members thereto, and means for individually securing each base directly to the bottom of the container.

5. In a container, a plurality of individual bottleholding units each comprising a pair of spaced clip members, each clip member being formed of looped wire having angularly bent lower ends, and the two clip members of each unit normally yielding inwardly to tightly grip a bottle inserted therebetween, an individual base for each pair of clip members having means for receiving said angularly bent lower ends of the wire forming the clip members, and means for independently securing each base directly to the bottom of the container.

6. In a container, a plurality of individual bottle-holding units each comprising a pair of spaced clip members, each clip being formed cf looped wire, and the tWo clip members of each unit normally yielding inwardly to tightly grip a bottle inserted therebetween, a base having grooves in its lower surface for receiving end portions of the wire forming the clip members, and means for securing said base to the bottom of the container.

JOHN W. LANG. ALFRED M. JENSEN. 

